Score a Dream Room on a Dinky Budget

So, what's your style? It's okay if you don't know. Flea markets, estate sales, and thrift shops are the perfect places to find the special pieces that will make your room feel like you. Using tips I learned from my mom—the ultimate yard-saler—I work almost entirely with rescued, recycled, and reinvented pieces to create unique spaces for real families with major design challenges. On these pages, you'll find my fixes for a bedroom full of outdated furniture, a builder-basic kitchen, a blank-slate living room, and a toy-cluttered playroom. If any of those scenarios sound familiar, I promise you'll be beyond inspired.

Get the deals the pros do

Shop like a local. If I'm in a new city, I do an online search for flea markets or garage sales in the area. I also like to hit Goodwill and the Salvation Army—they get new things every day.

Be an early bird. Pay the early-entrance fee at flea markets. For just a few extra dollars, you'll get a first crack at the good stuff.

Don't be afraid to haggle. Dealers expect a little back-and-forth. And bring cash! The color green makes every offer more attractive. My standard lines include "Is that your best price?" and "Can you do any better?"

Keep calm and carry on. Even if I'm jumping for joy on the inside, I never show my excitement. Revealing to the vendor that you can't live without one of his items isn't very helpful when you're trying to negotiate.

Broad stripes that run across the widest part of the floor make this space look larger. Sand the wood, wipe it down, then add two coats of porch paint (I used Grand Teton White by Benjamin Moore). Let it dry for a day, then tape off 12-inch stripes and, starting from the inside corner, paint every other one a soft blue (Seacliff Heights by Benjamin Moore).

You don't need to start from scratch—in this room, for example, I reused almost all of the existing bedroom furniture. Here's how to incorporate new finds but still have it all make sense together.

1. Assess what you have to work with. Most rooms have one or two pieces that will serve as jumping-off points. Snap pictures of them with your phone—when you're shopping, you'll want to look for things that complement the pieces you already own.

2. Pick accessories with a similar theme. In this case, I maintained a beachy feel with framed nautical maps, a driftwood mirror, and shell lamps.

3. Pay attention to scale. If your giant headboard is a keeper, seek out a bedside table that can hold its own. 4 A piece that's too small or delicate will look like it's being swallowed in the space.

4. Take measurements, and store your room dimensions in the notes section of your phone. You never know when a shopportunity might arise!

The nightstands were a bit boring, so I painted them bright green (Benjamin Moore Tequila Lime) and swapped the pulls for boat cleats from a marine supply store. It was a cute, budget-friendly nod to this client's love of boating.

Repeat after me: When shopping secondhand, go for "good bones." Solid construction, iconic shapes, and eye-catching details will act as the foundation for a new, updated look. And you can't believe how many times I hear people say they don't test a piece to make sure it's comfy. Sit on it before you buy!

1. I knew right away that the green corduroy sofa I found for $50 was perfect for this room. While the olive fabric was faded and tired, you couldn't hide the midcentury sleekness of the "Larsen-style" arms. The sofa was reupholstered in red linen with a soft blue welt to tie in the colors of the rest of the space. At the end of the day, I spent $800, but a similar new sofa might cost three to four times as much in a retail shop.

2. Since the price and quality of reupholstery can vary greatly, I recommend getting two or three estimates before committing. And before placing an order for fabric, ask for a sample. My little secret? I often use outdoor fabric indoors, because if it's weatherproof, it will likely be pet-proof and spill-proof, too.

These blue-and-white ceramic pieces have a collected, heirloom feel. In truth, they all came from secondhand shops—and most were less than $10. For maximum impact, I used two similarly sized groupings on either side of the mantel and varied the heights of the objects. As I arrange, I take pictures to see if anything looks awkward. But really, there's no right or wrong way to do this, so feel free to experiment.

'For about $75, most electricians will wire something for you—like these old lanterns.'—Lara

African textiles make great pillows and throw blankets. I love the way the stripes on this fabric look across the back of the sofa.

This had a great layout but dated finishes. Here's how to fix one up without going in for a gut reno:

1. Paint the cabinets. I use a high-gloss paint because it doesn't scratch and wipes clean easily. Also consider renting an industrial paint sprayer (they're about $115 a day) to avoid brush marks.

2. Replace the backsplash. Bye-bye, beige. White ceramic subway tile is clean, modern, and cost-effective at around $3 per square foot.

3. Re-cover the chairs. The fabric you see came from vinyl shower curtains! It's cute, stainproof, and ideal for high-traffic areas and young kids.

4. Add unique lighting. I found these industrial-size whisks at a flea market for $70 each, then had them turned into pendant lamps. (Check out page 26 for a tutorial on how to do something similar.)

5. Install new countertops. You'll have to hire a pro for this one, but it's worth it: This new butcher-block countertop lends so much warmth. Just rub it regularly with butcher-block oil to ensure longevity.

I was so taken by the great price on this table that I overlooked obvious flaws like its super-wobbly legs. In the end, the entire frame had to be rebuilt from scratch. Avoid my mistakes by watching out for these warning signs:

• Chairs or sofas with very loose, wiggly arms

• Cracked or broken legs on anything

• Wood pieces with chipped or peeling veneer

• Lucite pieces with lots of scratches—you'll see them!

This space went from a kids' playroom to "Pass the champagne, please," thanks in part to the fancy set of dining furniture. But believe it or not, that "set" is made up of unmatched pieces that were unified with bright white lacquer. If you're planning to paint, make sure to sand and prime first. It can be a pain, but it guarantees a professional-looking finish.

Pricey handmade wallpaper was the inspiration for this D.I.Y., which first involved sketching the cherry blossom design in pencil. Acrylic craft paint was then used to add branches—thicker at the base and pencil-thin at the tips. The blossoms are just five dots in a cluster. Practice before you paint, but I promise you don't have to be an artist to do this.